Thoughts from a scientist who is a Christian (not a Christian Scientist)

Fetal Study Shows Social Interaction IN THE WOMB

Oct.18,2010

Ultrasound image of one fetal twin caressing the other's back (Image from PLoS One)

Those who want to say that a child inside the womb is not a human life have to ignore some very basic science. For example, they have to ignore the plain genetic evidence, which is found in the “blueprint” that makes each person. Of course, I am talking about the person’s DNA. While not all of a person’s characteristics are based on his or her DNA, most of them are. In other words, DNA contains the overall framework that makes a person who he or she is. More importantly, there is no other organism on the planet that has a genome like a human being’s genome. Thus, as soon as a person’s DNA forms, a human life has begun. When does that happen? It happens at the very moment of conception. At that moment, when the person is composed of just one cell, a human life has begun. Probably the best statement regarding this fact comes from Dr. Jermoe L. LeJeune, the brilliant geneticist who was the first to demonstrate a link between certain diseases and chromosomal abnormalities. While testifying before a U.S. Senate Subcommittee, he said:1

To accept the fact that after fertilization has taken place a new human has come into being is no longer a matter of taste or opinion. The human nature of the human being from conception to old age is not a metaphysical contention, it is plain experimental evidence

If you want to believe that a baby in the womb is not a person, then, you have to ignore the plain experimental evidence. LeJeune’s quote comes from 1981, and since them, more and more experimental evidence has been stacking up to show that a baby in the womb is most definitely a human being. The latest evidence to be added to the pile comes from ultrasound investigations of twins in the womb.

Umberto Castiello and his colleagues studied five pairs of twins during their 14th and 18th weeks of development in the womb. They used four-dimensional ultrasonography to study how the twins moved. They showed that the twins touched themselves, touched the uterine wall, and touched each other. However, the touches that they directed towards each other seemed more purposeful and had longer durations. The ultrasonic image at the top of this post, for example, shows one twin caressing the back of the other. This kind of interaction, according to the researchers, is not accidental. It is deliberate.2

One thing they noticed is that from the 14th to the 18th week of development in the womb, the percentage of times the twins touched themselves or the uterine wall decreased, but the percentage of times they touched each other increased. In other words, the interaction of the twins increased as their neurological development increased. The authors conclude:

These findings force us to predate the emergence of social behaviour: when the context enables it, as in the case of twin foetuses, other-directed actions are not only possible but predominant over self-directed actions.

Now think about what this means. Almost 30 years ago, Dr. LeJeune explained that genetics tells us babies in the womb are fully human. With this analysis, however, we now have another indicator that tells us the same thing. When the opportunity arises, a baby in the womb will socially interact with another baby in the womb. He or she will stroke the other baby’s back, stroke the other baby’s head, etc. In other words, not only is the baby fully human from a genetic point of view, he or she is fully human from a social point of view.

Those who want to view a baby in the womb as just a mass of tissue or only a “potential” human life now have even more science they are forced to ignore.

Firstly the data is very subjective (Particularly “more purposeful”). It would be easy enough to disregard it under the pretext that the nervous system is not developed enough for meaningful interhuman contact at that age so it MUST be a fluke.
Given that 87% of UK abortions are performed under 12 weeks (I don’t know how the US or other countries compare but expect it’s similar.) they couldn’t really be condemned under this piece of research, and at that age the same doubts about the very possibility of such social interaction must be magnified still further.

Still it would put a bit of a crimp in Peter Singer’s justification of abortion in that the foetus is a Homo Sapien but not a person.

jlwileOctober 19, 2010 2:07 pm

Josiah, I think the study makes a strong case for purposeful, other-directed movements. They actually time the duration of the touches, and they find that the touches are noticeably longer when they are other-directed. Also, remember that the percentage of other-directed touches increases significantly as the neurological system develops. This could be coincidental, of course, but it fits very nicely with the idea that the social interaction develops with the nervous system.

I certainly agree that this current research doesn’t address the social status of a baby at less than 14 weeks in the womb. However, I would expect that as time goes on, more research will occur in this area. Given the fact that the brain starts to form in week 3 and starts to differentiate in week 4, it is possible that the social development starts significantly earlier than 14 weeks. If nothing else, however, I think this research makes a strong case for a social human being at least within the 14-18 week window. That, in itself, is important.

Dr. Wile, you have to be kidding. Five sets of twins “makes a strong case for a social human being at least within the 14-18 week window.” How can that be strong evidence, whatever was observed?

And does four-dimensional ultrasonography just use time as the standard fourth dimension?

jlwileOctober 30, 2010 8:28 pm

No, I am not kidding, and neither are the authors. Remember, they state:

These findings force us to predate the emergence of social behaviour (emphasis mine)

Indeed, 100% of twins studied in the womb exhibit social behavior. That is very strong evidence. This isn’t a statistical study. We aren’t trying to determine relative risk or something like that. We are observing what happens when the possibility of social interaction presents itself in the womb, and in every case studied, the babies in the womb are social. This is why the authors say they are FORCED to predate the emergence of social behavior.

You are correct about the fourth dimension. Three-dimensional ultrasounds take a snapshot. Four-dimensional ultrasounds record three dimensions of space and how they change as a function of time.

Dr. Jay L. Wile

You have stumbled across Dr. Jay L. Wile's Blog. Dr. Wile holds an earned PhD from the University of Rochester in Nuclear Chemistry. He is best known for the "Exploring Creation with..." series of textbooks written for junior high and high school students who are being educated at home. He has also just released an elementary science series!You can read about that here.

Links to Investigate

Just {Extra} Ordinary
This is the blog of marine biologist Sherri Seligson, the author of Exploring Creation with Marine Biology. She discusses a wide range of topics of interest to homeschooling parents.

Answers in Genesis
While I disagree with some of the theology on this website, the science discussed is pretty solid.

True Origin
This website contains works from a good mix of young-earth creationists.

Todd's Blog
This is the blog of Dr. Todd Wood, one of the leaders in baraminology. He covers current topics of interest to young-earth creationists.

The GeoChristian
This is the blog of Kevin Nelstead, an old-earth creationist geologist. He covers many topics related to the age of the earth and offers a nice contrast to the young-earth writings listed above.

Discovery Institute
An interesting "think tank" that contains the major players in Intelligent Design

Pharyngula
This is atheist PZ Myers's blog. While I disagree with most of what he says, he is a provocative writer. This is one of the few blogs I read regularly. Please note that there is a lot of foul language in his writing. Those who cannot defend their positions rationally tend to descend into such nonsense.